The First Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios & Cadences: Includes All the Major, Harmonic Minor & Chromatic Scales (Alfred's Basic Piano Library)
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The First Book of Scales, Chords, Arpeggios & Cadences: Includes All the Major, Harmonic Minor & Chromatic Scales (Alfred's Basic Piano Library) Details
Accomodates the learning pace of younger students such as those in Alfred's Basic, Level 2. The scales are presented on one page, with one line of scales in parallel motion, one line in contrary motion, one line of cadences and one line of arpeggios. Includes all the major, harmonic minor and chromatic scales in a special one page per key format. These excellent all-inclusive books teach scales, chords, arpeggios, and cadences at three different levels. The FIRST book (#11761) accommodates the learning pace of younger students such as those in Alfred's Basic Piano Course, Level 2. The BASIC book (#5754) is slightly more in-depth, presenting scales, chords, arpeggios, and cadence studies in all the major and minor keys. The COMPLETE book (#5743) features everything in the BASIC book, plus extra features like a 12-page explanation that leads to complete understanding of the fundamentals of major and minor scales, chords, arpeggios, and cadences; a clear explanation of scale degrees; and a two-page guide to fingering the scales and arpeggios.
Reviews
This book contains pretty much exactly what it says it does other than some nice bonus material on the inside of the covers (circle of fifths, chromatic scales, etc.).Each key gets its own page listing 2-octave parallel and contrary motion scales, cadences in three inversions, and 2-octave arpeggios in three inversions. Fingerings are presented for each of these. The scales are in a pretty logical order, moving around the circle of fifths order in the sharp direction followed by the flat direction. I like the simple, straightforward layout and ordering. It's a nice change compared to scale books that try to shove in all sorts of variations and every single exotic scale but then miss important details like fingerings. I like quality over quantity. You can move on to the more advanced stuff once you have the basics mastered.One subtle point that I like is that each key is notated with its key signature. There are scale books out there that notate everything in the C Major key signature (i.e. no accidentals in the key signature) and then place the accidentals on the individual notes as needed. I guess they do this because they think it is easier on the beginner to have the accidental right there on the note but I find it just delays the important step of learning how to lock your brain on to a key signature.If you are a complete beginner, this book will be a little too bare for you without supplemental learning materials. You'll have to find out elsewhere what key signatures are, why you'd want to practice scales, etc.. Don't buy this book expecting that it alone will teach you how to play. However, this is a great reference to have for anyone working on the basics.
